canfield



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-sheet 1.

. H. O. GANFIELD.

BUSTLE.

No. 359,240. Patented Mar 15, 1887.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. GANFIELD.

BUSTLE.

No. 359,240. Patented Mar. 15, 1887-.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. CANFIELD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TC THE CANFIELDRUBBER COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

BUSTLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent. No. 359,240, dated March15,1887.

Application filed December 4, 1886. Serial No. 220,710 (No lllOllCLl Toall whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. CANFIELD, of Bridgeport, in the county ofFairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Bustles and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

.My invention relates to an improvement in bustles.

The object is to provide a bustle which will collapse into a flattenedform when subjected to pressure, as when the wearer assumes asitting orreclining posture, and which will antomatically return to its extendedform as soon as the pressure is removed.

A further object is to provide simple and convenient means for securingthe spring-bars to the side bars, and in general to provide a light,durable, graceful, and comparatively inexpensive bustle.

XVith these ends in View my invention consists in certain features ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 isa view of the bustle with partsextended. Fig. 2 is a view of the same collapsed. Fig. 3 is a sectionalview ofmy improvement, showing the manner of securing the springbars.

A A represent a pair of side strips, preferably incased in a fabric, B,which latter project inwardly, and are provided on their inner edgeswith eyelets b, for the reception of a lacing, c, and also projectoutwardly in the form of skirts or flaps C, the edges of which maybefinished in a neat and ornamental manner by an edging or embroidery.

G G are two side bars, secured to the side strips, A A, by tapes 5/, orother suitable material, by passing the tape over and around the sidebars, atsuitable intervals thereon,between the spring-bars D D D 850.,and eyeleting them through the side strips, A A.

The side bars, G G, are provided at suitable intervals with perforationsadapted to receive eyelets I), which pass through the ends of the reedsor spring-bars D D D &c., and being loosely riveted to the springbars,allow of the free vertical movement of the spring-bars when pressureisapplied thereto.

D D D &c., represent a series of reeds or spring-bars, graduallydecreasing in length from the lower one, D, to the upper one. The endsof the spring-bars are preferably bound by metallic clips or heads (1.as is common, and

' are preferably secured to the side bars by the eyelets b passingthrough them, as before referred .to. A tape, H, is secured to theseveral spring-bars at their middle points by eyelets h, set through thespring-bars and tape, and is secured at its upper end to the waistbandG, to which the skirts C are attached, and the lower bar is furtherprovided and connected to the second or other bar aboveit by a shortspring-bar, I, of the same general con struction as the bars D D, &c.The bar I is secured at its ends to the bars D D, &c., by a lacing whichpasses through the eyelets in the ends of the bar I. By means of the barI the three (more or less) lower bars, D D, &c., are retained in thesame relative position.

A pair of fine spiral springs, K, have one end secured at thelowerendsof the side strips, A, preferably to eyelets fastened to tapes F, thelatter being secured to strips A. The opposite ends of the spiralsprings are secured to tapes h, attached to the second or other springabove, at points about half-way between the ends and middle of thespring-bar. The bar to which the springs are connected is preferablysomewhat larger and stiffer than the others, but not necessarily so.

To afford a stay for the upper bars, and also to give the bustle agraceful shape from the top band to the top bars, D and at the same timerender the upper portion of the bustle capable of being depressed into afiat adj ustment, I provide two diagonal spring-bars, M, the ends ofwhich are riveted to the bars D* D by eyelets s. The bow of these barsextends above the spring-bar D. The tape II is also attached to themiddle of these bars M, and holds them in position.

The band G consists of a strong strip of webbing, or other suitablematerial, firmly secured to the upper ends of the side strips, A

A, and to the fabric which incases them, and projects in straps Z, forsecuring the bustle to the person.

The lacing 0 serves to draw the ends of the spring-bars toward oneanother, and thereby change theshapeof the bustle, makingit more or lessprominent, as may be desired.

\Vhen a person is in a reclining or sitting position, the bustle assumesa collapsed form, and when the pressure is removed therefrom the springsand the weight of the dress,which is received on the crown of thediagonal bars M, allow it to spring out into shape.

It is evident that slight changes might be resorted to in the form andarrangement of the different parts described without departing from thespirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myselfstrictly to the exact construction herein set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a bustle, the combination, with side strips and side bars flexiblyconnected thereto at or approximately at right angles therewith, ofaseries of springbars pivotally connected at their ends to the side bars,and a tape connecting the spring-bars, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a waistband and side strips dependingtherefrom, side bars located at or approximately at right angles to theside strips, and flexible devices connecting the side bars and strips,of the spring-bars and eyelets for pivotally securing the spring-bars tothe side strips.

3. The combination, with a waistband, side strips depending therefrom, alacing connecting the side strips, the side bars located at orapproximately at right angles to the side strips, and flexible devicesconnecting the side bars and strips, of the spring-bars pivotallysecured to the side bars by eyelets, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presenceoftwo subscribing witnesses.

HENRY O. OANFIELD.

W'itnesses:

WM. D. BISHOP, Jr., WILLIAM T. HAVILAND.

